The unemployment rate for the Burlington Micropolitan Area was 5.4% in February, down from 5.7% in January. Fort Madison-Keokuk unemployment stood at 6.5%, down from 6.6% in January.

Iowa’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped to 4.1 percent in February from 4.2 percent in January. The state’s jobless rate was 4.4 percent one year ago. The U.S. unemployment rate was 5.5 percent in February.

“Iowa’s unemployment rate continued to trend down in February,” said Beth Townsend, director of Iowa Workforce Development. “While nonfarm employment decreased slightly this month, so too did the number of unemployed workers. Virtually all employment and labor force indicators continue to show improvement compared to last year.”

The number of unemployed Iowans decreased to 70,100 in February from 71,800 in January. The current estimate is 4,000 lower than the year ago level of 74,100.
The total number of working Iowans increased to 1,646,100 in February. This figure is 1,100 higher than January and 27,100 higher than one year ago.

A Burlington man is facing 28 separate counts of sexual exploitation of a minor following a nearly five month long investigation by the Burlington Police Department and Federal Officials.

44 year old Roger Lee Osborn of South 13th Street in Burlington was first encountered by police after the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force contacted Burlington Police about a large amount of Child Porn being downloaded from Osborn’s residence.

A search warrant was originally executed on his home in early December. Inside, police discovered over eighty videos and over sixty images of children under the age of six engaged in sexual acts with adult men, adult women, and other children. Osborn was arrested after forensic investigation allegedly revealed that he was the one obtaining the pornography.

Osborn is being held without bond in the Des Moines County Jail, pending his first appearance in court.

]]>http://www.kbur.com/2015/03/23/burlington-man-arrested-after-over-80-child-porn-videos-found-in-home/feed/0Bill Would Force Governor to Keep MHIs in Clarinda & Mt Pleasant Open Through June 30thhttp://www.kbur.com/2015/02/19/bill-would-force-governor-to-keep-mhis-in-clarinda-mt-pleasant-open-through-june-30th/
http://www.kbur.com/2015/02/19/bill-would-force-governor-to-keep-mhis-in-clarinda-mt-pleasant-open-through-june-30th/#commentsThu, 19 Feb 2015 16:24:31 +0000http://www.kbur.com/?p=46026A subcommittee in the Iowa Senate has endorsed a bill that would force the two state Mental Health Institutes targeted for closure to admit patients through the end of June, but staff at the facilities in Clarinda and Mount Pleasant have been told layoff notices are coming soon.

Senator Rob Hogg, a Democrat from Cedar Rapids, says the staff at the Mental Health Institute in Mount Pleasant told him they’ve already turned away more than three-hundred patients.

“We appropriated the money. We expected these facilities to operate for the year,” Hogg says. “And for them to be unilaterally closed is unacceptable.”

Senator Mark Segebart, a Republican from Vail, says while officials have been trying to “redesign” the state’s mental health service delivery system for several years, this is not the time to “make this jump” because the beds at the two state-run Mental Health Institutes are still needed for patients.

“Sometimes they just take ‘em to the ERs and leave them there for three days until they can find a bed in their own hospital,” Segebart says. “That’s terrible. It’s really a crisis.”

Danny Homan is the president of AFSCME Council 61, the union which represents many of the workers at the two facilities. He says staff at the Clarinda Mental Health Institute were told on Tuesday that patients with acute mental illness will no longer be accepted there after April 1st and the last day for staff there will be on or before May 18th. According to Homan, staff at the Mount Pleasant M-H-I were told Tuesday that the first round of layoff notices would go out this Monday, February 23rd and May 31st is the target date for complete closure of the facility.

“The legislators are on the right side of this issue,” Homan says. “The governor of this state is on the wrong side of this issue.”

Governor Branstad says it’s been difficult to recruit psychiatrists to work in Clarinda and Mount Pleasant and he says the two facilities are antiquated and ill-suited to modern treatment. Senator Hogg says that wasn’t his impression when he toured the M-H-I in Mount Pleasant two weeks ago.

“It was built in the late ’50s and early ’60s. It’s in as good a condition as the high schools in Cedar Rapids,” Hogg says. “…Second, the staff there is working hard and most importantly the patients who we had a chance to visit with talked about how treatment they might have received in prison had failed. Treatment they may have received in the community they liked, but it wasn’t enough. They were really benefiting from being there.”

The bill that cleared a senate subcommittee early this morning (Thursday) calls on the governor to keep the institutes operating through June 30th, since the budget approved by the legislature last year allocated that money.

Homan says it’s clear community services for mentally ill patients can’t handle the number of patients who would have been served at the state-run hospitals.

“And the governor should sign this bill and he should stop the movement to close these facilities until the infrastructure’s in place to do what we need to do,” Homan says. “And we’re not there.” According to Homan, staff at the Clarinda M-H-I are contacting nursing homes and trying to transfer geriatric patients who’re being treated at Clarinda for a mental illness. Homan says that’s “outrageous” since four of those geriatric patients are violent sexual predators who did time in prison for sex crimes.

Born on January 3, 1952 in Burlington, Iowa, he was the son of Chester and Barbara Jean Miller Powell. He was raised by his grandparents, Henry Clay and Minnie Bell Miller. He married Pamela Pfadenhauer on February 11, 1978 in Burlington, Iowa.

Rikki was a graduate of Southeastern Community College where he was a member of the college golf team. He worked as custodian for Edward Stone School and also worked at Pepsi Cola Bottling Company and Montgomery Wards for 29 years, mainly in the electronics department.

He adored his children and grandchildren; time spent with family was very important to him. He was a Three Stooges fanatic with Dr. Who running a close second. He also loved electronics and movies. He enjoyed bowling, was an avid sports fan, a Little League coach and was a supporter of the Burlington Athletic Booster Club. He was a people person who enjoyed the company of others and never met a stranger. He was a member of the West Hill United Methodist Church.

He is survived by his wife, Pamela; one son, Leigh Powell of Coralville, Iowa; one daughter, Elisa (Dustin) Roth of Burlington, Iowa; two sisters, Vikki Ann Smith of Iowa City, Iowa and Mikki Lynn (Tim) Miller of Middletown, Iowa; two grandchildren, Delaney and Hudson Roth; his mother-in-law, Jo Pfadenhauer of Burlington; three sisters-in-law, Donna Pfadenhauer (Mike) of Burlington, Terri (Bill) Miskovic of Burlington and Sandy (Tony) Klote of St. Louis, Missouri; one brother–in-law, Jim (Rhonda) Pfadenhauer of Burlington; several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; grandparents; and two brothers, Nikki Lee Powell and Billy Powell

Funeral services for Rikki Powell will be held on Saturday, December 27, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. in Prugh’s Chapel. Rev. David Bracht-Wagner will officiate. Interment will be in Long Creek Cemetery, Danville, Iowa.

The family will receive friends on Friday afternoon from 3:00 until 5:00 p.m. in Prugh’s Chapel. In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established for the grandchildren of Rikki Powell. Casual attire is requested for all services. Condolences may be left at www.prughfuneralservice.com.

Grace L. Wagg, 77, of Mediapolis, died at 12:02 PM Saturday, December 20, 2014, at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics in Iowa City.

Born February 11, 1937, in Muscatine, she was the daughter of Maynard and Ruby Moots Krueger. On March 12, 1955, she married Sherman “Max” Wagg in Muscatine. He died July 5, 2007.

Grace was a homemaker while her daughter was growing up. She also worked for Pies on Parade, Happy Joe’s, as a housekeeper at Pzazz, and was a candy striper while she lived in Chicago as a younger woman.

She loved to bake, crochet, do word puzzles, play games with her family, play computer games, and watch her favorite shows, “Survivor”, “Big Brother”, and “Jeopardy”.

Survivors include one daughter, Brenda (Steve) Strothoff of Mediapolis; two grandchildren, Brad (Brittany) Miller and Rebecca (Kevin Wehage) Miller; one sister, Bonnie Kerr of Mediapolis; and several nieces and nephews.

Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents, one brother, Bill, and four sisters, Shirley, Florence, Judy, and Vicki.

Cremation has been entrusted to the care of Thielen Crematory.

Visitation will be from 8:00 AM until 2:00 PM with the family to receive friends from 1:00 PM until 2:00 PM Friday, December 26, 2014 at Thielen Funeral Home.

The memorial service for Mrs. Wagg will be 2:00 PM Friday, December 26, 2014, at Thielen Funeral Home with Pastor JudyAnn Morse officiating. Burial will be in Keokuk National Cemetery at a later date.

A memorial has been established for the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics Surgical and Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit.

Thielen Funeral Home & Crematory is in care of the arrangements.

A photo tribute can be viewed and condolences can be sent to the family by visiting Grace’s obituary at www.thielenfuneralhome.com.

Amanda “Marya” Wagoner, 41, of Burlington, died at 12:01 AM Friday, December 19, 2014, at her home.

Born December 31, 1972, in Mount Pleasant, she was the daughter of James V. and Carol N. Raef Wagoner.

Amanda worked for Walmart and Job Corps.

She was a 1991 graduate of Mediapolis High School. She received her Associate Degree in Clerical Administration from Southeastern Community College in 2005.

She enjoyed painting ceramic animals and knitting. She was also an avid Kansas City Chiefs fan and a big sport “nut”.

Survivors include her parents; two brothers, Jason (Cara) Wagoner of West Burlington, and Noel (Laura) Wagoner of Marion; her maternal grandmother, Bernardina Raef of Chula Vista, CA; several aunts, nieces, nephew, and cousins; and one great-niece and one great-nephew.

She was preceded in death by one brother, Morgan Wagoner, her paternal grandparents, and her maternal grandfather.

Cremation has been entrusted to the care of Thielen Crematory.

Visitation will be from 8:00 AM until 11:00 AM Tuesday, December 23, 2014 at Thielen Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 10:00 AM until 11:00 AM.

The memorial service for Miss Wagoner will be 11:00 AM Tuesday, December 23, 2014, at Thielen Funeral Home with Rev. Father Marty Goetz officiating. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery in Dodgeville. A time of food and fellowship will be held in the community room at Thielen Funeral Home following the burial.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established for St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry.

Amanda “Marya” Wagoner, 41, of Burlington, died at 12:01 AM Friday, December 19, 2014, at her home.

Born December 31, 1972, in Mount Pleasant, she was the daughter of James V. and Carol N. Raef Wagoner.

Amanda worked for Walmart and Job Corps.

She was a 1991 graduate of Mediapolis High School. She received her Associate Degree in Clerical Administration from Southeastern Community College in 2005.

She enjoyed painting ceramic animals and knitting. She was also an avid Kansas City Chiefs fan and a big sport “nut”.

Survivors include her parents; two brothers, Jason (Cara) Wagoner of West Burlington, and Noel (Laura) Wagoner of Marion; her maternal grandmother, Bernardina Raef of Chula Vista, CA; several aunts, nieces, nephew, and cousins; and one great-niece and one great-nephew.

She was preceded in death by one brother, Morgan Wagoner, her paternal grandparents, and her maternal grandfather.

Cremation has been entrusted to the care of Thielen Crematory.

Visitation will be from 8:00 AM until 11:00 AM Tuesday, December 23, 2014 at Thielen Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 10:00 AM until 11:00 AM.

The memorial service for Miss Wagoner will be 11:00 AM Tuesday, December 23, 2014, at Thielen Funeral Home with Rev. Father Marty Goetz officiating. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery in Dodgeville. A time of food and fellowship will be held in the community room at Thielen Funeral Home following the burial.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established for St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry.

Robert Lee “Bob” Schwenker, 83, West Burlington died Sunday 12/21 at the Great River Hospice House.

He is survived by 3 sons, Kenneth and Daniel of Burlington and Gregory of West Burlington, 2 daughters, Brenda Carson and Sharon Ashby both of West Burlington, 7 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren and 2 step great-grandchildren.

Funeral Services will be held at 2PM Tuesday December 23rd at Lunning Chapel with burial in the Aspen Grove Cemetery. The family will receive friends 1 hour prior to the time of service

]]>http://www.kbur.com/2014/12/22/obituaries-monday-december-22nd/feed/0And Those Candidates Just Keep on Coming…and Coming…http://www.kbur.com/2014/10/31/and-the-candidates-just-keep-on-coming/
http://www.kbur.com/2014/10/31/and-the-candidates-just-keep-on-coming/#commentsFri, 31 Oct 2014 17:59:43 +0000http://www.kbur.com/?p=44849Possible 2016 Presidential candidate Chris Christie was in town last(Thur) night, campaigning on behalf of Governor Branstad and his ticket.

Christie spoke to a crowd of 200-plus at the Winegard Companies’ new, Mt. Pleasant Street warehouse & plant, telling of his friendship with the long-time Governor and comparing being asked to help Branstad with being asked to take batting practice with Mickey Mantle. Branstad, who’s seeking his 6th, non-consecutive term, was there, as were Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds and 2nd District Congressional candidate Mariannette Miller-Meeks.

Late this morning, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jack Hatch and his running mate, Monica Vernon, made a stop at Des Moines County party headquarters in Burlington, giving the volunteers there a pep talk in a voice that’s showing the strain of a long campaign. The polls to-date have all shown Branstad with a double-digit lead over the state senator, but one of the volunteers reminded us that Congressman Eric Cantor(R-VA) was favored by 20-some points in his bid for reelection against Tea Party-backed candidate David Brat, but still lost in the primary last June.

The Bees are now 13-13 in the second half of the season and 51-44 overall, while the Hawks move to 17-9 and 57-38. The teams will play again tonight in South Bend and you can hear all the action on KBUR, starting with Michael Broskowski’s pregame show at 6:15.

In high school baseball last night…

(Class 1A district semifinal) ND 2, Danville 0

(Class 1A district semifinal) Van Buren 11, New London 1

Notre Dame and Van Buren will play each other tomorrow in Danville for the district title.

Mt. Pleasant play Oskaloosa at Fairfield at 5 pm in a 3A district semifinal

Ft. Madison takes on Fairfield(at Fairfield) at 7 pm in a 3A district semifinal

Keokuk battles Knoxville at Centerville at 5 pm in a 3A district semifinal

Long-time Ft. Madison varsity girls softball coach Mike Ehlers is leaving the team after 15 years, so he can devote time to watching…and coaching…his own two children.

]]>http://www.kbur.com/2014/07/18/bees-lose-nd-van-buren-advance-in-h-s-baseball/feed/0Clinton’s “Hard Choices” Available Tuesday at Bookstoreshttp://www.kbur.com/2014/06/08/clintons-hard-choices-available-tuesday-at-bookstores/
http://www.kbur.com/2014/06/08/clintons-hard-choices-available-tuesday-at-bookstores/#commentsSun, 08 Jun 2014 12:01:36 +0000http://www.kbur.com/?p=42533Hillary Clinton’s book “Hard Choices” is being released Tuesday and a poll of likely Iowa Caucus-goers will be released this week as well to see how Clinton might fare in the 2016 presidential race against an array of Republican foes.

Christopher Budzisz is the political science professor who directs the Loras College Poll. The poll was conducted this past Wednesday and Thursday, as surveyers sought to discover how Iowa’s 2014 race for governor and the U.S. senate was going.

Republicans in congress have raised questions about Clinton’s conduct of foreign policy while she served as secretary of state during President Obama’s first term, especially her handling of security at the diplomatic outpost in Benghazi, Libya, where four Americans were killed in the fall of 2012. Republican strategist Karl Rove has even questioned Clinton’s physical health. Professor Budzisz says that criticism doesn’t seem to be damaging Clinton’s chances.

In early April, Suffolk University surveyed eight-hundred Iowa Democrats who’re likely to attend the 2016 Iowa Caucuses. The poll found Clinton had the support of 63 percent of those surveyed. Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren who had 12 percent support, followed by Vice President Joe Biden, at 10 percent. This past March a Des Moines Register “Iowa Poll” found 88 percent of Democrats think Clinton should run again in 2016.

There was no competition for any of the Henry County elected offices, although Democrat Mary Hoyer will challenge Republican incumbent Mark Lindeen for a Supervisor’s seat, come November.

]]>http://www.kbur.com/2014/06/04/heaton-over-holmstrom-in-henry/feed/0Burlington Schools to Lose Second Administratorhttp://www.kbur.com/2014/05/27/burlington-schools-to-lose-second-administrator/
http://www.kbur.com/2014/05/27/burlington-schools-to-lose-second-administrator/#commentsTue, 27 May 2014 13:30:53 +0000http://www.kbur.com/?p=42319The Burlington School Board will be accepting the resignation of another high-ranking official at tonight’s (Tuesday) meeting.

This time it’s Curriculum Director Laurie Noll, who has accepted a position as Superintendent in Fairfield. Her last day with the Burlington School District will be June 30th. Also on tonight’s agenda, is an update on the Pro-Start Culinary classroom for Burlington High School. Their budget for the project was around $420,000. Both bids they got were more than that, so their action item is to reject all bids for being over budget, and to re-bid at a later date.